Author Topic: Saga Holidays  (Read 485 times)

Akbuk

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Saga Holidays
« on: Sep 17, 2020, 10:04:11 PM »
Nope not thinking of a holiday but watched a bit of comedy on YouTube last night & they were mentioned.
Looked today and it seems they cater for the over 50s.
So has anyone used Saga on here?
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brian54

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Re: Saga Holidays
« Reply #1 on: Sep 17, 2020, 10:29:04 PM »
No. I saw an advert for a Warners hotel booked through Saga and it was about £100 more than booking  direct with Warners. They were both self drive.

Akbuk

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Re: Saga Holidays
« Reply #2 on: Sep 17, 2020, 10:37:00 PM »
No. I saw an advert for a Warners hotel booked through Saga and it was about £100 more than booking  direct with Warners. They were both self drive.


I had a quick look today because i’d never heard of them but some of the reviews confirmed your post re prices.


No I’m not hear to offend BUT I had to laugh at this. Be warned, the language can be a bit strong so don’t open the link if easily offended.


https://youtu.be/qlmvlBf2EGM
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zoony

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Re: Saga Holidays
« Reply #3 on: Sep 17, 2020, 10:38:04 PM »
Nope not thinking of a holiday but watched a bit of comedy on YouTube last night & they were mentioned.
Looked today and it seems they cater for the over 50s.
So has anyone used Saga on here?


 I assume the mention was as the butt of a joke about 60-90 holidays or something as they're best known for catering for the more experienced customer..I've only ever used them as an insurer and that not for very long but I've no reason to think that they don't do decent holidays..I would however, expect to pay top dollar and be contacted by them ad infinitum...
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biglouis

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Re: Saga Holidays
« Reply #4 on: Sep 18, 2020, 12:14:21 AM »
The only thing I heard about them in their favour is that you can book a single holiday without paying a rip off supplement to subsidize families which always annoyed the hell out of me.


I usually found it best to just book flights and hotels separately either via the internet or an agency like Expedia. When I travelled to Nepal, Syria and Iran I just booked my hotels direct = working on recommendations I got from travellers on the Lonely Planet website. Flights landed at weird hours but the hotel would always send a car and driver to the airport to pick me up. And I found that once I arrived the price and quality of the room was negotiable and I always ended up with something far nicer than I booked for the same money!

Unlike with a package tour you are in a far more powerful position once you arrive at the hotel because you have the ability to go elsewhere if you dont like it! But then I always enjoyed a good haggle and the thrill of the deal.
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Traveller

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Re: Saga Holidays
« Reply #5 on: Sep 18, 2020, 07:50:51 AM »
When I travelled a lot on business, on Monday mornings from September onwards, Gatwick airport was awash with a sea of sports jackets and blue rinses.  Yes, it was SAGA holiday season, and everyone looked jolly like schoolkids going on a picnic.  Not for me.  OK, I'm pushing on a bit but no way do I want to go on holidays with a load of other seniors.  I too, book flights and hotels separately look for the best deals and come and go as I please.  Even if you want an organised package holiday, SAGA are  expensive.

Mrs. L did use them once for car insurance, but then their prices shot up, they wouldn't do a better deal ,so she moved.
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Michael Rolls

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Re: Saga Holidays
« Reply #6 on: Sep 18, 2020, 08:08:55 AM »
I used them for house insurance for a couple of years, but the next time I phoned to renew they wanted me to change all locks and window locks. - which would probably have meant new windows! - before they would even quote. End of conversation
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klondike

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Re: Saga Holidays
« Reply #7 on: Sep 18, 2020, 09:19:10 AM »
The only thing I heard about them in their favour is that you can book a single holiday without paying a rip off supplement to subsidize families which always annoyed the hell out of me.
Those supplements are to offset families subsidising singles  ;D
So long and thanks for all the fish

xetog

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Re: Saga Holidays
« Reply #8 on: Sep 18, 2020, 07:53:09 PM »
Saga started in Folkestone, as you say catering for the older customer.  Originally owned by a Dutch family they had a tremendous reputation amongst their customers and employees alike.  People from our area used to work there and always reckoned they were great employers.  Their offering was more 50/90 than mainstream, but their service was second to none.


They did well and then the usual happened, they were bought out.  It was the AA, who had been taken over by a big finance company and they joined the mainstream rip off crowd.  They expanded into insurance and eventually into their own cruise ships.  They have recently been taken over again by yet another big money firm.


My experience with  them directly was one year of house and contents insurance many years ago.  Every year since they have written offering both house and car insurance with very cheap quotes which double as soon as you ask for a firm figure which turns out to be about 20% dearer than any other reasonable company.  I have heard a  lot about their cruise ships.  Good from what I can glean, but expensive, although they are all inclusive with all drinks, tours, gratuities all-in, which commonly cost an extra £500 to £1000 on any other cruise line.  They are still however still a bit on the high side for people like us who don't drink much, like to go our own way in port and pay gratuities up front to get a discount.


Mike.X
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biglouis

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Re: Saga Holidays
« Reply #9 on: Sep 18, 2020, 11:19:06 PM »
I have never been a "package" type of person. I used them in the past when they were the cheapest option to get somewhere by providing a basic flight and hotel. To the chagrin of the reps I would NEVER book the rip off excursions. Even worse from their point of view I would turn up at the little drinks reception and then team up with others to hire a taxi for the day so we could go where we wanted at our own speed.
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Akbuk

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Re: Saga Holidays
« Reply #10 on: Sep 19, 2020, 12:54:00 AM »
My one holiday goal left for me is a cruise, I pledged to go on one with my brother before he died. I get sea sickness BUT sod it, I will do one. He told me that on the big liners, sea sickness is a rarity. I/we were looking at them before this virus landed on this planet, as said though I will do it.
If I have to walk about with a bucket, so be it lol
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biglouis

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Re: Saga Holidays
« Reply #11 on: Sep 19, 2020, 01:34:24 AM »
I would not like a cruise. I went on a Nile cruise years ago. It was a cheap Thompsons 2 week holiday to Luxor and came the year after a massacre had decimated the Egyptian tourist industry. When they opened up holidays again they were dirt cheap so always up for a bargain I went. The rep was flogging Nile cruises cheap also - no ripoff single supplement so I went on one. The cruise was ok and I saw an interesting city (Aswan) that I might not have otherwise visited. It had a great soukh.


When we were on the last day the rep was suggesting a tip of X per cabin based on a dual occupation and was a bit miffed that as a solo person I would only give 50% of that.
Rules are for the guidance of wise men and the blind obedience of fools.

Michael Rolls

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Re: Saga Holidays
« Reply #12 on: Sep 19, 2020, 04:40:20 AM »
The idea of a cruise has never appealed to me, nor did it to Veronica. On the other hand, her brother and his wife used to go on a couple a year, and would have done so this year but for the virus.
M
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xetog

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Re: Saga Holidays
« Reply #13 on: Sep 19, 2020, 09:48:29 AM »
Akbuk, for years we kept an apartment in Spain, but tired of it.  The trip almost always included an overnight (sometimes 2 nights) ferry to Bilbao or Santander.  I didn't like it and the long drive down to the south I eventually found too tiring and maintenance was always an issue, so we sold up.  My wife had long wanted to try a cruise, but I didn't fancy it, but finally agreed just before we sold up in Spain. The cruise went from Barcelona for 7 days down to the Canaries & back. It meant a short flight from Bristol.  We were met, whisked off on a coach to the ferry port.  Very little in the way of security was required and we were on board.  We had a spacious balcony cabin and it included our first visit of many to Madeira, now possibly my favourite place in the world.  Food was great as was the company, in short we had a lovely time and in 7 years have been on 19 cruises around the Atlantic, the Pacific, the Mediterranean, the Baltic and Scandinavia, but have been on none since January 2019.  I wouldn't say all have been terrific, but few were regretted.  We are tentatively looking at a cruise for September 2021, but will have to wait and see how the winter goes.


As far as sea sickness is concerned, fortunately we both have our sea legs after some very stormy ferry crossings of Biscay.  Cruise ships vary in size and therefore stability.  Few, except the smallest rock and roll too much and some of the most modern are over 1000ft long so are very stable.  The sea however is unpredictable; we have been in the Queen Mary 2 across the Atlantic through the tail of a hurricane with waves breaking over the 8th deck and although not a smooth trip, most people seemed to find the motion acceptable.  Other times mid-Atlantic has been like a mill pond, sitting out in the Sun on our balcony.


It might be worth taking a short trip (5-7days) first to see how you go, I would suggest the Med or the Baltic as being generally the calmest.  As far as cost, you should remember to factor in parking or getting to either the airport or the cruise port, gratuities (can usually be stopped, although some lines like P&O and Marella, do not charge gratuities) and any guided trips you may wish to take.  Drinks packages are expensive, we usually just buy our own as we go as they are about what you would pay in a pub.  Excellent meals and snacks are always included in the price, but specialist dining is available as an extra.


I don't think I dare make this longer, but if you need to know any more just ask.


My personal favourite is Marella (Ex Tui) but they rarely depart the UK so flights are required.


Mike.X
If you want to control peoples thoughts, first control their words.